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Rizzo, Cubs need fan support on All-Star ballot

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2014 All-Star ballot 0:31

Visit MLB.com/Vote to decide which Major Leaguers will participate in the 2014 Midsummer Classic at Target Field on July 15

By Carrie Muskat
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MLB.com |

PITTSBURGH -- Anthony Rizzo may not be getting as many votes in the All-Star balloting as Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, but the Cubs infielder should get some consideration as he's ranked right up there with his peers.

Rizzo entered Monday's game against the Pirates tied for first with Gonzalez and the Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschimidt in home runs with 12. Rizzo is third in on-base percentage (.403) behind the Nationals' Adam LaRoche (.416) and the Reds' Joey Votto (.410).

The Cubs first baseman is first in walks (42) in the NL, fifth in slugging percentage (.490), tied with Gonzalez for sixth in hits (58), and seventh in batting average (.276).

But Rizzo isn't among the top five in the latest All-Star balloting, released Monday. Gonzalez is the leading vote getter among NL first baseman, followed by Goldschmidt, the Braves' Freddie Freeman, the Rockies' Justin Morneau, and the Giants' Brandon Belt.

No Cubs players were listed among the top vote-getting position players, and the team's representative may be a pitcher. Jason Hammel ranks sixth in the NL with a 2.53 ERA while Jeff Samardzija is seventh at 2.54.

Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or on a mobile device -- using the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Experian until Thursday, July 3, at 11:59 p.m. ET. The 2014 All-Star Game will be played at Target Field on Tuesday, July 15.

Fans may submit up to 25 online ballots, but they can also earn a one-time bonus of 10 additional online ballots. To access these additional online ballots, you must be logged into your MLB.com account when you submit any online ballot. If you do not have an MLB.com account, register on the site in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.

Fans this year once again can participate in the Home Run Derby Fan Poll. Fans will have the opportunity to select three players in each league who they would most like to see participate in the Home Run Derby. The 2014 Home Run Derby will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 14.

The 2014 American League and National League All-Star teams will be unveiled on the 2014 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show during the weekend of July 5-6, with further details to follow on MLB.com. Immediately following the announcement of the AL and NL All-Star rosters, fans can begin voting to select the final player for each league's 34-man roster via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Experian. Fans will cast their votes from a list of five players from each league over the balloting period.

And the voting doesn't end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote Sponsored by Pepsi, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

The 85th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.